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Thursday, October 13, 2011

Cannabis has been used as medicine since the dawn of time.
Some folks would tell you that it is simply superstition and old wives tales, but that's not true.

In 1952 Dr.J. Kabelikovi performed tests in Europe using cannabis extract on bacteria.
These tests were similar to those used to test penicillin.

The alcohol extract of cannabis was bacterially effective against many gram-positive and one gram-negative microorganisms.

A cannabis paste applied externally was also found to be effective.

According to Kabelikovi, "from a study of 2,000 herbs by Czechoslovakian scientists it was found that cannabis indica (the Indian Hemp) was the most promising in the realm of antibiotics."

In 1960 Drs. J. Kabelik, (Director, Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology) Z. Krejci and F. Santavy (Director, Institute of Medical Chemistry) from the Medical Faculty of the Palacky University, Olomouc, Czechoslovakia, published a paper called "Cannabis as a Medicant".

In this paper proof was given that cannabis extracts produce a very satisfactory antibacterial effect upon the following microbes:

Noteworthy is the effect upon staphylococcus aureaus strains, which are resistant to penicillin and to other antibiotics.

This is great news for us today with the super bacteria that have become resistant to modern antibiotics.
( By the way, did you know that the word antibiotic comes from Greek and means 'against life'?)

The anti-bacterial properties in cannabis are from cannabidiolic acid and cannabidiol.
They are most effective against local infections, ear, nose, throat and skin infections.

One of the best ways to use this herb for local skin infections is as a poultice.
A poultice is simply macerated herb wrapped in a clean cloth and placed on the affected area.

How to Make a Poultice

Using dried herb:

Use a mortar and pestle to grind the herbs to a powder.

Add enough warm water to make a thick paste that can be easily applied.

Add the water a little at a time, until the mixture is a thick paste but not stiff.

Make enough to cover the affected area.

Take a clean piece of gauze, large enough to cover the affected area completely, and spread the herbal preparation over it.

Cleanse the affected area and place the poultice over it.

Wrap the poultice in a clean cloth and hold it in place with a safety pin.

Using fresh herb:

Put about twice as much water as herb in a pan and simmer for a few minutes. Do not drain!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Fulla Nayak lived in the village of Kanarpur in the coastal district of Kendrapada, Orissa. She lived in a cow-dung hut with her 92 year old daughter, Jamuna Nayak, and her 72 year old grandson, Narayan Nayak, in a region where cannabis seeds are plentiful.

Fulla Nayak died in November 2006, at the ripe old age of 120. Before her death, she was the oldest woman in the world, with her competition, Maria Esther de Capovilla of Ecuador, dying at 116.
A great number of people want to know the secret to Fulla’s good health in old age, and she herself attributes it to her use of marijuana. In India, cannabis seeds are something of a sacred symbol, and use of the plant is entrenched in daily life.

Fulla Nayak enjoyed a long and healthy life, and she certainly didn’t sacrifice any of life’s little delights. She smoked marijuana and cigars and drank strong palm wine, a life-style that is frowned upon by Western conservatives. But perhaps her permanent state of relaxation and joy allowed this intriguing woman to remain in perfect health for well over a century.

Cultivating marijuana seeds is common in the community, and Fulla Nayak used leaves to make tea and joints. Fulla is certain it is the pot that made her reach a Guinness World Record breaking age, and her grandson, Narayan, said he wanted to write to the Guinness World Record authorities and get his grandmothers name in its deserved spot.

Pot is a Part of Indian Culture
India has a long and varied history of marijuana use, and it has a strong connection with cannabis seeds. Marijuana’s use in religious ceremonies and practices dates back to 1500 BC, and is an integral part of religious rites.

Marijuana seeds have long been known to grow in abundance in various parts of India in the wild, and it has been recorded in the sacred texts of the Hindus, the Rig Veda, where a description of a drink called Soma can be found. It is believed that Soma was in fact a marijuana drink.

Reaching Spiritual Oneness with Shiva
Shiva, a significant Indian god, is strongly associated with cannabis. It is believed that the god loved its effects, and so it is thought that consuming the plant will lead to spiritual oneness with Shiva. While cultivating cannabis seeds and consuming the plant is illegal in India, an exception is made during the festival of Mahashivratri. This festival is known as the ‘Great Night of Shiva,’ and Shiva devotees consume cannabis in the form of Bhang on this special night.

Bhang is a traditional and delicious tea using cannabis leaves with a mixture of almonds, spices, milk and sugar. It is said that Shiva had an affinity for this tea, and the tea is thought to aid you in the journey to spiritual enlightenment, bringing you closer to Shiva himself.
Growing and cultivating marijuana seeds is an age-old custom of the peaceful Indian people.

Perhaps Fulla Nayak serves as an example of the health benefits of living a relaxed and happy life.